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Getting the tension right - fingering out the knitting

LHM | 11.04.2007 00:15 | Anti-militarism | Education | Free Spaces | South Coast

News alert:

Nuke Free State Established at Aldermaston Atomic Weapons Establishment

police facing border arrest at nuke free state
police facing border arrest at nuke free state

Mindfully knitting
Mindfully knitting

evidence collector learns the addictive nature of knitting
evidence collector learns the addictive nature of knitting


An inclusive Postprotest experiment was today (Tuesday after easter) set up by Nonviolent Calm Interventionists at AWE Aldermaston after a brisk walk inside the perimeter fence before establishing a non protest nonviolent nuke free zone by Tadley Gate.

Diversity
It is true that with all of us our choice to i(k)nitiate or not is a personal thing, it could just come down to perspective and working out what is needed at a given time and place. Many however choose classical approaches to challenge and CAN polarise differing parties, as are their choices.

Resistance without mixed messages
Many of us have asked how do we resist, in the light of dominant classical negating perspectives? The answer is how we can, not how we cant, without complaining looking to government officials or offering a hint of the winge.

Respect giving and unanswered questions
Sometimes, just sometimes its important to respect 'others' choice to stand apart. Sometimes people choose exclusivity to do what they do unhindered by another, alternatives and unsimiliars may be viewed also as a threat when infact they are not. How is it with those committed to going beyond protest - with Post Protest? How do we embrace and yet exclude at the same time? How are we learning to say 'it' plainly meaning no offence?

The fluffy event
Today a 'Post Protest' experiment was i(k)nitiated that established a Nuke Free State/zone at the AWE Aldermaston using woolly boundaries. Police chiefs (and evidence collecting staff) were as well as protesters alike were kindly and warmly warned that on entring this state they could be arrested and ejected IF protest occurred or if low quality authority was utilised. Most protesters and ministry of the fence police wisely kept a wide berth, avoiding any crossings.

The good things
Nevertheless, friendly Anti New Nuke replacements Protesters and MOD police alike were warmly invited to drop their 'protesting' / 'ministery of de fence' mentality on entry of the newly founded zone where a newly established nuke free, nonviolent state was set up with its own government. This blurry, wooly state was set up with wool boundries (finger knitted borders).

What would be changed
No bluebells were located on the days walk to the bluebell woods. Another return is too be expected.

What was learnt
Using Aldermaston lookalike knitting bags (coincidental or incidental?) for the emerging knitting which as it grew enlarged its volume and reduced the finger pointing tensions all round. The fast and slow fingering knitted hearts together and enabled a myriad of ideas to form friendliness and the zone was set up for all who wanted to give their policing/protesting roles a rest amidst warmth and explore tools for resistance and lightness of being.

It is important to clarify that despite some infringements many arrests were made - only cautions were given and figs and knitting lessons. Finger buffet food was also provided.

LHM
- Homepage: http://ickevald.net/vineandfigtreeplanters/

Comments

Display the following 6 comments

  1. pictures — katy
  2. fluffy borders — dodgy
  3. resistance — P
  4. digging it out — Hope
  5. amusing creative — Soph
  6. post protest — Thomas